Device for slicing edibles



y 22, 1945- H. G. w. YOUNG 4 DEVICE FOR SLICING EDIBLES 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Dec. 4,\ 1942 l'rwenlof:

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y 1945- H. G. w. YOUNG DEVICE FOR SLICING EDIBLES I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1942 Patented May 22, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE e v 2,376,843 ,7 I f DEVICE FOR SLICING nmBLEs Henry G. W. Young, Cambridge, Mass. V Application December 4, 1942, Serial No. 468,167

18 Claims. (01.146-169) This invention relates to devices for cuttin'g edibles and has for, its object the provision of a' machine which is adapted to cut vegetables'and fruit into slices.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which may be used to: cut a boiled potato into slices preparatory to frying the same or using said slices in 4 salads. a

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the slicing of the edible may be accomplished by means of taut wires and thus dispensing with the use of cutting knives.

A further object of the invention is the production of a machine of this character which will be of simple construction and can be manufactured at a' minimum cost.

I The objects of the invention areattained by the instrumentalities shown in the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the' drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organizationof these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required'by the scopevof the appended claims.

. Of the drawings: I

Figure 1 represents a plan of a device embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 3, 3 on Fig. 2 with the slidable plates in their rearmost position.

Figure 4 represents a similar section with the said plates in their'forward position,

Figure 5 represents a sectional detail showing the stop member for limiting the forward movement of the outermost plates.

Figure 6 representsan elevation of the central.

plate.

Figures 7 to 11 inclusive represent elevations of section -on 1 Figure 15 represents a vertical section on line [5,15 onFig. 1.

Figure 17 represents a similar section with the platesin their extreme forward position.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout 'theseveralfigures of the drawings. 7

In the drawings, I0 is a trough provided with ears lilac to receive bolts II by which the trough may be secured firmly to ashelf or, other support I2. e

Within the trough I0 and between the sides .I3 thereof area. plurality of separately additive slidable plates I4, I5, I6, I1 and I8 on one side of a central operatingplate l9, on the otherzside of which are the slidable plates I833, I11 IBx, I51: and Mm. I e

. Atthe forward end of the trough I0 andv pivoted thereto at 20 isan extension ,2 I ,havingtriangular top and bottom plates 22,,22x spaced apart and connected together at their three corners by uprights 23, 23 and 2351:.

There are no side Walls to the extehsioh 21, the 7 Each of the plates I4 to I8 inclusive and Mac a to Illa: inclusive have at the forwardend thereof a shoulder 24, these shoulders of the different,

plates extending outwardly from the center of the entire group ofpl ates. 1

Preferably the forward end of each of the slidable plates has a slight curvature therein as indicated at 25 in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, eachinner plate heaving a deeper curvature; 25 than that of the plate adjacent the outer face. of each inner plate,

At the rear of the bottom 22a: of the extension 2| are two stop members 25x, as shown in Fig. 5, and when in the forward movement of the plates I4, I 4x the shoulders 26 thereon come into contact withthese stop members 25a: all; further forward movement of these outermost plates I4, Mn:

is prevented.

Each of the'plates I4, 14.1: has an elongated slot 21 therein into which projects a pin 21a: extending outwardly from the adjacent plate I5 or 151:, and as a. consequence, whenv the plates I4, I41

reach the end of their forward movements all the other plates may continue'to move forward until the pins 210: come into contact with theeforward ends of the slots 21 when further forward move;-

ment of the plates I5, IE9: is stopped. '-The for-o ward movement of the other plates IE; IT, I8, I9, I-Gw, Ila: and I8a are successively stopped when wardly and rearwardly. The plate 32 issecured to the pins 28 in plate I6 and I650 come to the for-:- ward nds of the slots 28a: in platesxl whenthe pins 29 in plates II, I'Ia: reach the forward ends of the slots 29a: in plates I6, I61; when the pins 30 in plates I8, I83: reach the forward ends of the slots 30a: in plates I7, "1:; and when the pins 3I t I in platev I9 reaches the forward ends of the slotsv 3 la: in the plates I8, 'I8rc. r

When the plates start to move forward they are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

ing opening 50 therein, the inclined sides of which are on the inner side thereof.

When the rollers 40 in some of the plates are in any of the openings in adjacent plates, there is some lost motion when one plate moves relativelyto another plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

The diameter of each roller is almost equal to 'the thickness 'of two plates and are ordinarily when they are at the end of their forward move ment they are in a position shown inFig. 4.

The pins 21m and 29 to 3| inclusive are all 101.

-cated at'predetermined points on their respective plates and this is also true of the slots to receive these pins. 1

Moreover, the lengths of these slots 21, 28:1:t0

3m. inclusive must bepredetermined in order to have all the slidable plates stop'at the right time Y and in the'desired positions as shown in Fig. 4. p

When the plates are moved rearwardly from the position shown in 1 Fig. 4, they move togethenuntil the outer plates I4, I43: come into contact with the stop members 210 shown in Fig.

relative to each other I 4 of the drawings; thus preventing any further rearward movement of these plates 14,143;

The othenplates continue in their rearward movement until they are successively stopped by I0 isa cover plate. having a slot 35at the for ward end, which-slot'35 has parallel sides servingas a guide for the operating knob 33, which 'is adapted to be used in moving the plate I9 forscrews 36 threaded to checknuts 3Iin'an' aperture 38 extending through said plate I9.

The central plate I9 has in-itsopposite sides" concaved depressions 39 in which extend tubular therplatel9 by free to rotate without performing anyfunction. When the'various slidable plates are in the position shown in Fig. 16, the first forward movement of the central operating plate l9 'will cause the lost motion in the slots of said plates to be taken up and then all of. these plates will be moved forward together, with their forwardends substantially in the position shown in- Fig. 16.

When the shoulders 26 on the forward ends of the plates I4, I42: come into contact with the stop members-25a: (see Fig. 5), further forward movement of these plates I4, I la: will be prevented," ,but'the remaining plates will continue tonmove forward. At this time the rollers-40 in =slots 48 in plates I5, I53: will enter ,thedepressions; 5I-in the sidewalls l3 of the trough l0, and be disen gaged from the plates I5, I:, thereby permitting forward movement .of said plates I5, '-I5:v,' "the plates I l, I41: remainingata standstill.

The. forward movement of plates I5, 'I5c'will bring the rollers 40 in plates I5, I5x opposit'e the slots 50 in plates I4, I432, permitting said rollers in slots 46 to enter said slots 50 and become dis-- engaged from the plates. I5, I5a:, which then come to a standstill 7 H The plates I6, 5rv then-move forward until the rollers 40 therein come oppositethe slots 49 inflplates I5, l'agthusallowing said rollersto enter said slots 49 in platesIIi, IBx; thereby re leasing the plates I1, I11: so that they may be moved forward.v

When the rollers 40 in plates IT, ":1: come op posite the slots 41 they will enter said'slots 41, releasing the plates I8, I83: so thatthese plates when thus released may be moved for;

will enter said slots 45 and-release the plate I9 members 40 located in vertical slots 4[ the plates I8 and I802, and these' rilates I8, I81: have extending therethrough openings 42--with iIlclined sides adjacent-the side faces of the plates I1, H112, andin' these openings 42extend similar tubular members 40 which are in plates I1, I'lx. 7

In all the plates, except I9, the tubular members 40 are retainedin the respective-slots II by located in slots 4| v means of vertical pins 43 ,embedded-in the various slidable plates. I t

1 These plates I5,"}I5a:}each-have similar-open V plates to be moved together until released from I contact in the manner just described.

ings 48,49 therein as shown in Fig. 10, and into each of the openings 48 extends a'rollerlqlinthe v ward movement,as shown in Fig. 17.

all of plates be so that it may be moved to the end of its for- When the plate I9 is moved rearwardly, the

other plates I8 to I4 and I81: to I4'zc will succes sively be picked up by a reversal of the movements just described, until theouter plates I4, I 4:: come into contact with the stop members zlu'and in'Fig. 4.

When the rollers 40 are inthe positions shown in Fig. 16, they are free to revolve aboutithe' supporting pin. 43 which performs only one function and that is the retaininglof'the rollers 40 .in

their respective slots when'the'. plates are removed from the trough I0. I p,

When the plates are' moved forwarder backward, the curved or inclined'walls of depressions -39, 5I and slots 45 to EOinclusive, coming into contact with rollers 40, cause said rollers to be I forced outwardly from said depressions and slots of the different plates and, imp n e uponithe walls ofother adjacent plates, vthus causing the two The actual stopping of thevarious plates is performed by thepins 21m and 28 to 3i inclusive theiroriginal positions asshown coming into contact with the ends of slots 21. and 28m to am, as shown in Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive.

The slidable plates'may all be madeuof plastic The top plate .zz and bottom plate 22x are provided with a plurality of holes 51 which holes in plan are in V-shaped formation, as shown in Fig. 1.

In a hole 51 in the upper plate 22 is anchored a fine cutting wire 58 which extends downwardly through an opening 51 in the bottom plate 220:, and then upwardly through holes 51 in the bottom plate 22:1: and upper plate 22, the'upper end of said wire extending through a hole in the shank of a screw 59 threaded to said upper plate 22.

By turning said screw 59, the wire 58 may be drawn taut and held taut by the check nut 60, reventing the rotation of said screw 59, all as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The foremost wire BI is anchored at the lowest end in a hole 51 in the bottom plate 22m and extends upwardly through a hole 51 in thetop plate 22, and is kept taut by a screw 59 and the check nut 60. The

shoulder in the bottom of slot 53 in plate 19 never comes into contact with the cutting wire 6| as the forward movement of said plate is stopped just as said shoulder reaches said wire.

This is also true of the shoulders 42 on the other plates M to I8 inclusive and Ma: to I83: inclusive, each plate being stopped in the forward movement before the shoulder thereof comes into contact with a wire 58.

When it is desired to slice a boiled potato or some other edible, the edible is fed into the trough at 62 and then the operator seizes the knob 33 and pushes forward the plate l9 and the other plates coacting therewith, thereby pushing the edible forward to the cuttin wires 58 and 59,

said wires passing through the edible and slicing .the same, the various slices dropping downwardly from both sides of the bottom plate 22:: into a receptacle provided to receive the slices as they are cut from said edible.

The member 239: is wedge-shaped as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, and serves to separate the last slices cut and force these slices outwardly. I

The extension 2| may be removed from the trough H] to permit the cleaning of said extension, and other elements of said device.

From the foregoing explanation it is believed that the operation of the invention will be understood readily and no further description is necessary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device for slicing edibles, the combina- -tion of a trough; a forward extension thereto provided with a plurality of vertically disposed taut wires; a plurality of separately additive slidable plates having shoulders at their forward ends and forming a unitary whole within said trough with successively additive engaging means assostopped until the center plate is'stopped at a foreciated with said unit-for moving.saidfplatespand adapted to permit Continuedmovement offsome of said plates when movement of othenof said platesisarrested... ..;.I.Z i i 2. -In a device for slicing edibles asset forthin claim l,rin which said taut wires'inplan 'are'disposed in 1 V-shaped' formation with theapex of said V'disposed away from'said sliding plates.

3; In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim-Lin which means including a determinate stop element disposed in the path of each of said plates is providedwhereby inthe forward movement of said plates-the outer plates are stopped first and'the-next inner plates are sequentially "moved" forward and *successively mostpositiorri 4'. In a device 'for slicing -edibles as set forth in claim 1;- in'which" said exten'sion is provided with means to tighten said vertical wires.

5. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said forward extension is removably connected to the forward end of the trough.

6. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said trough is provided with-a forwardly projecting plate including an adjustable member coacting with the bottom of said extension and supporting the same.

7. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which each plate is provided with a pin extending into an elongated horizontal slot in an adjacent plate.

8. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, which said extension consists of triangular top and bottom plates spaced apartand connected together by uprights at the three corners thereof. I

9. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said extension consists of triangular top and bottom plates spaced apart and connected together at the three corners thereof by uprights, saidplates having openings therein to receive said taut wires, each wire being anchored in an opening in the top plate and extending downwardly through an opening in the bottom plate and then upwardly through openings in both plates with its upper end coiled about the shank of a wire tightening screw threaded to said top plate.

10. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which said'shoulders on said slidable plates extend outwardly from the center 7 of the group of plates.

11. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth claim 1, in which said shoulders are formed in the inner ends of vertical. slots in the forward ends of said slidable plates.

12. In a device for slicing edibles as set forth in claim 1, in which each slidable plate has a pin extending into an elongated slot in an adjacent plate, said slots being of predetermined lengths and disposed at predetermined points in horizonhaving .a "vertlcalxpin extending .Ltherethrough loosely. surrounded bya vtubular-i member adapted: inithesmovement of same-plate to enter-another opening with inclined sides located data: pre'de: termined point in: an adiacent slidable plate;

Y '16. In a device for slicingedibles as set io'rth in claim 1,111 which each slidable" plate-is provided V -.With an opening therethrough at a predetermined 17 111 a. device-for slicing-edibles, the combine-- 7 tionmfatroughz a plurality of cutting members atone end thereof; and a, plurality of independi ently, slidable plates in said trough together with t means operable by movement of, said ,plates whereby said. plgtesere moved as a. unit to a de-j 2,376,843 I p I v terminate point and'thereafter" said plates are sequentially moved to d-iiferentlpositions and to a cooperating :relntion withsaid cutting members and successively cut slicesifroni said edibles.-.s I

'18. In a. device forslicing :edibles; the combina 1 v tion of a. trough; 1a plurality o'f cutting members, 7

at one end 1 thereof; "and a plurality of slidable plates in said trough, means toiwhichufo'rce may be applied to move said plates .with 'interlocking means associated withsaid plates whereby'move- 'ment of said platesis efiecte'd in sequence todeterminate stop position into cooperating relation ,with said cutting members andisuccessively cut slices from said edibles, said interlocking means being interposed between saidplates in a manner to cause them to movetogether until theforward movement ofieach' plate is stopped;

- v HENRY G. w.,

YOUNG. 

